If you’re excited to create your resume from scratch or revamp an old one, this complete guide of classic resume templates (with resume free sample references) will help you.
Before diving into our hand-picked best templates for resume writing, here’s a tip:
👉 Do you need the best resume templates right away? Visit our dedicated resume templates and resume samples page. You’ll find the best resume designs, examples, and resume free sample collections to get started instantly.
Along with free templates, we also provide a resume builder that lets you start writing your resume now.
If you want to see resume template examples in action, start reading below.
Basic Resume Template
A basic resume template means having fundamental resume sections like contact details, resume summary, work history, education, and skills. All of them together make a perfect resume. The additional detail section is not written separately here, but these details continue after the skills section with a heading tag.
Let's see the structure first, and then we will discuss the placement of content in a simple resume template.
Structure of a Basic Template
The structure is the outline of a resume, and it remains pretty much the same whether it is a free resume template or some high-end template resume design. Refer to the basic template structure below.
- Contact details
- Summary
- Experience
- Education
- Skills
That is all you need in a basic template, and the placement of the resume section follows the same order as mentioned in the list above. Now read how a resume is created using a basic theme template.
How to Write a Resume Using a Basic Template
Your Name
Job Title
📞 Phone Number | ✉️ Email Address | 📍 Location | 🔗 LinkedIn
Summary
Write a summary that blends your core skills, field experience, and measurable achievements. Add keywords from the job description to improve ATS visibility and show relevance.
Experience
Job Title – Company Name
Location | Year
- Highlight your value by showing skills and impact.
- Use bullet points for readability and ATS compliance.
- Support achievements with numbers and percentages.
- Keep claims accurate and realistic.
Education
Highest Degree – University Name
Location | Year | GPA (if strong)
Skills
- Soft skills
- Technical skills
- Interpersonal skills
- Job-specific skills
Languages: [Language – Advanced/Native]
Certifications
Certificate Name – University/Institute
Location | Year
Memberships
Designation – Club/Association
Location | Duration
Normally, the resume summary statement is not altered by position, immaterial of what kind of resume templates you are using. The summary remains the same.
Professional Resume Template
A professional resume template is more detailed and works best for mid-level and senior professionals. It includes additional sections such as certifications, memberships, and language proficiency.
So, as usual, we will first look at the structure of a professional resume template and then see how it is written.
Structure of a Professional Resume Template
Professional resume templates are a bit advanced since the word professional resonates with a seasoned employee who has been working for a long time and contains a heavy load of professional experience plus expertise. Here's the professional resume structure.
- Header
- Professional summary
- Professional experience
- Education
- Skills
- Language proficiency
- Certifications
- Membership info
- Job-specific skills
As you can see, the structure of professional resume templates is lengthy, having many more details compared to others. In short, it is a complete set of information about job seekers. Now, let's see how to write a professional resume.
How to Write a Resume Using a Professional Resume Template
Your Name
Job Title
📞 Phone Number | ✉️ Email Address | 📍 Location | 🔗 LinkedIn
Summary
Create a strong summary by integrating core skills, experience, and achievements. Use keywords from the target job description to make it relevant and ATS-friendly.
Experience
Work Title – Company Name
Location | Year
- List experience in reverse chronological order.
- Use bullet points for readability and ATS compliance.
- Quantify achievements with numbers or percentages.
- Keep descriptions realistic and to the point.
Education
Highest Degree – University Name
Location | Year | GPA
Skills
- Technical skills
- Transferable skills
- Job-specific skills
Languages: [Language – Advanced/Native]
Certifications
Certificate Name – University/Institute
Location | Year
Memberships
Designation – Club/Association
Location | Duration
Write the names of all the languages (including foreign languages) that you are an expert in, with the level of expertise. For example, high, low, advanced, native, etc. If you are a member of a professional club, association, or group, then mention it like above.
Creative Resume Template
Creative themes resume templates are generally used by job seekers from creative industries like fashion, arts, culture, entertainment, and so on. In a way, the creative template is similar to a professional resume since there are no major changes in the format and structure.
The reason why it is called a creative template is because of the geometrical shapes, lines, attractive color theme, and stylish fonts. All these make it not only look beautiful but also engaging for the hiring managers. We will learn the structure of the creative template first and thereafter resume writing.
Structure of a Creative Resume Template
The structure of creative theme resume templates is more or less similar to basic and professional theme resume templates. However, the placement of the resume sections can differ depending on the resume design. Refer to the structure below.
- Header
- Professional summary
- Experience
- Education
- Skills
- Languages
- Interests
The interest section in this template resonates with the job seeker's activities, either related to work or personal life. Now, let's see the resume writing process.
How to Write a Resume Using a Creative Resume Template
Your Name
Job Title
📞 Phone Number | ✉️ Email Address | 📍 Location | 🔗 LinkedIn
Summary
Summarize your expertise with a mix of skills, experience, and accomplishments. Align your statement with job requirements to build trust with employers.
Experience
Job Title – Company Name
Location | Year
- Showcase your creative or technical strengths.
- Emphasize how you add value to an organization.
- Write in bullet points for clarity and ATS optimization.
- Add data or results to strengthen credibility.
Education
Highest Degree – University Name
Location | Year | GPA
Skills
- Soft & creative skills
- Interpersonal skills
- Transferable skills
Languages: [Language – Advanced/Native]
Interests
(e.g., games, music, sports)
Creative theme resume templates are one of the best resume templates because of the resume design elements, color theme, and fonts. The above one is the text version; hence, you won't be able to visualize the creativity, but we have free resume sample templates to help you see the outcome. Click here for creative theme resume samples.
Modern Resume Template
We are yet again into a modern theme resume template that is similar to the professional theme resume templates. Yes, they both are almost look-alikes in the structure and the resume layout. Therefore, without further discussion, let us quickly proceed with the structure and then resume the writing process. Here we go.
Structure of a Modern Resume Template
As we said above, if you go through the structure of a modern theme resume template, you will hardly find any difference. The core structure remains the same with a slight difference in the rear information.
- Header
- Summary
- Work history
- Education
- Skills
- Languages
- Certifications
- Membership info
While making a job application for your dream job, if you think there's no membership information available or you haven't been a member of any group or association, then skip the part and proceed.
How to Write a Resume Using a Modern Resume Template
Your Name
Job Title
📞 Phone Number | ✉️ Email Address | 📍 Location | 🔗 LinkedIn
Summary
Create a strong summary by integrating core skills, experience, and achievements. Use keywords from the target job description to make it relevant and ATS-friendly.
Experience
Work Title – Company Name
Location | Year
- List experience in reverse chronological order.
- Use bullet points for readability and ATS compliance.
- Quantify achievements with numbers or percentages.
- Keep descriptions realistic and to the point.
Education
Highest Degree – University Name
Location | Year | GPA
Skills
- Technical skills
- Transferable skills
- Job-specific skills
Languages
- Language – Advanced/Native
Certifications
Certificate Name – University/Institute
Location | Year
Memberships
Designation – Club/Association
Location | Duration
The deal with using modern theme resume templates is that you can easily customize them using a resume builder. Apart from this, the modern theme resume templates are a bit creative since there are colors, stylish fonts, columns, broad ribbons at the top, and ample white spaces. All these elements make them good resume templates for a job search.
One-Page Resume Templates
Most resume samples today are one-page, especially for candidates with less than 10–12 years of experience. This format is concise, recruiter-friendly, and easy to scan.
First of all, the length of the resume exceeds the given limit of one page only if you write large chunks of details about your professional life. If you are a highly experienced individual with a long history of job experience, and if you write every single thing, then undoubtedly you will get a two-page resume.
The solution is to keep the details short. Write the immediate job experiences only and skip those that are more than ten years old. This is how you will accommodate massive details in a single-page resume.
Free Resume Template
Free resume templates are one of the best resume templates offered to date. You don't have to pay a single dime to professional resume writers or to the one who did the resume design work. This is why we call them free resume templates. Furthermore, they save time. This is the biggest advantage.
The only issue with a free resume template is that they are minimalistic and contain fewer options to customize. You can alter them, but there are limits imposed on what you can change.
Free options are some of the best resume templates for beginners who want to get started quickly without worrying about design.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right resume template is about balancing style with clarity. Whether you go for a basic resume, a professional resume template, or a creative design, make sure your content remains tailored to the job. Use these resume template examples as a guide, and you’ll be one step closer to landing that interview.
